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Spruce Up With These Trends in Wood Flooring

That carpet may have to go. It looks old and worn even if it has been steam-cleaned a hundred times. It's time for a change. Who knows, you may have the perfect wood for your home interiors just beneath your carpets. It may be worth a peek. And it gives you a chance for change if you're in a home improvement mood.

Here are the top five trends in hardwood flooring this year that could fetch you a better price on a resale.

#1 Wider and Longer Wood Planks

Traditionally the planks in wood flooring were cut from 2 1/4 inches up to 3 1/2 inches wide. Now they range in width from two inches all the way up to seven inches. Wider planks tend to open up a room and make it feel more spacious, which makes for an excellent upgrade for the living room or master bedroom.

#2 Gray-Toned Woods

A recent trend in color scheme, which started on the West Coast, has replaced warm shades of beige and tan with cooler shades of gray. It has become an amazing "neutral" tone for walls and carpets in order to lighten up a room and create a sense of space. Now the color gray has become a top pick in the wood floor arena. There are various shades of gray to choose from, and the trend will likely continue in the near future.

#3 Lime-Washed Woods

The opposite side of the gray colors and dark tones that are trending is the look of lime-washed wood. This trend was started in the high-end homes of Europe. The mixture of lime and water of a bygone era gives the wood a nostalgic coastal feel. The tone is salt water- beaten and sun-bleached — perfect for brightening dark rooms.

#4 Wire-Brushed Woods

Wire-brushed wood is hardwood that has had the soft top layer of wood scraped off, exposing the harder wood and showing more of the natural grain. This may not seem like something that most people want, but the look can also help hide pet scratches and those that come from moving furniture. It has been seen to pop up more in coastal areas as the wire brush tends to leave a more sand-worn feel.

#5 Reclaimed Wood

Green enthusiasts are flocking to this wood flooring trend. Reclaimed wood is wood used from other homes or projects, or even recycled wood, to create new flooring. The term reclaimed wood refers to all of the different varieties of wood being used to transform it into a new product. Recycled wood refers to wood that has been taken from farms, wood barrels and logs found along bodies of water and used as is.

How to Solve the Biggest Home Inspection Nightmares

Certain home inspection fails can stop a home sale dead in its tracks. If you are trying to sell your home, it's important that you identify and fix any major issues in your home before putting it on the market, so you don't waste time and money after the fact. Certain buyers may not continue the purchase of your home if big issues are discovered during the inspection. Take a look at how to solve the biggest three home inspection issues.

Foundation Problems

The foundation of your home is the most important aspect because it is what makes the property structurally sound. Your foundation has to be in good condition for the rest of the home to retain its good structure. Water damage, bad craftsmanship and even geological problems can cause foundation problems. It will take a professional to truly determine the severity of any foundation issues.

If your foundation is cracked significantly or has shifted outside of inspection boundaries, you will need to have a professional reset it before you can place your home for sale. If the problem is too severe, you will have to consult a structural engineer.

Termites

Before selling your home, you will have to have it inspected for pests. If your home has been infested with termites, this can cause severe structural issues and cannot be ignored. The longer the problem exists, the worse it becomes. The same goes for rats, mice and ants. While these pests are not a huge concern, the termites are not something to ignore — they can destroy the structural integrity of your home. Bring in a professional to put an end to your termite issues, before they take over your home's structure.

Bad Roof

Replacing a roof is expensive, but it is necessary if your roof is leaking or missing a significant amount of shingles. If your roof does not pass the home inspection, you'll need to ask a professional roofing company to take a look and determine what the issues are. They may even be able to address the issues without having to replace the entire roof.

This is one issue that you need to identify before placing your home on the market —one of the contentious items in the inspection is the subjectivity of how long the roof will last and when it will need to be replaced. Your home inspector may say that your roof is nearing the end of its rope but has a few years left of good use before it will need to be replaced. This is why you need to consult with a professional roofer to have a written statement of evidence about your roof's condition for buyers to see.

7 Tips for Keeping Your Yard Green Without Doubling the Water Bill

As we are spending more time outside and curb appeal season is ramping up, let's talk about these seven tips for keeping your yard green without doubling the water bill.

1. Determine whether the type of grass in your yard is the best variety for your climate. There are dozens of unique classifications of turf grass, and all varieties respond differently to their environment. A few basic examples are cold- or heat-tolerant, saltwater-tolerant, grasses that stand up to wear and tear. Start by asking a lawn expert what you have (be prepared to discover there are several kinds) and which is the easiest to keep green.

2. Mow it at a higher setting. The blades on grasses act like satellite dishes for the roots. They attract sunlight, convert the energy into food and feed the roots. Raising the height on your lawnmower will prevent damage to the crown (just below the green part) and give the grass a bigger receptor to the sun's energy.

3. Pick the best time to water. On hot summer afternoons, water evaporates quickly, so it will take more water to saturate your lawn then than at other times during the day. On average, 5:00 a.m. is the best time to run the sprinklers or hose.

4. Go with a rainwater collection system. Rainwater collectors don't have to be fancy — some are in the shape of barrels — but they do help cut back on the water bill while keeping your yard healthy. But if you want to go fancy, there is a company that makes a system that doubles as a fence.

5. Prevent disease by applying the appropriate chemicals. Grass blades are susceptible to disease, like any other living organism. If you notice brown spots in a somewhat regular pattern in your yard or mushrooms in a circle, that could be a symptom of a fungus. The fungus could spread and possibly destroy parts of your lawn. An expert can advise you on what is appropriate for your variety and environment.

6. Fertilize it. Healthy yards stay green longer, are less prone to contamination and recover from foot traffic better than their counterparts. Feeding your grass is one way to keep it healthy. Going back to number 1 on this list, determine what you have in your yard and buy the appropriate fuel for it. You'll see the blades grow faster and thicker when properly nourished.

7. Overseed it in the fall or winter. This strategy applies mostly to folks who live in mild or warmer climates, but cold-weather lawn-lovers can overseed as well. Overseeding means just that — seeding over an existing yard. You'll have a green yard in the winter, but those seedlings will also help insulate your existing grass.